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Home , Asian openbill, Common redshank, Demoiselle crane, Eurasian spoonbill, Green sandpiper, Indian pond heron

Bird Populations 12:12-18 © The Institute for Populations 2013

WATERBIRD ASSEMBLAGE IN RURAL PONDS OF REGION, KUTCH DISTRICT, , INDIA1

A. MOHAMED SAMSOOR ALI2, S. RAMESH KUMAR AND P. R. ARUN Division of Environmental Impact Assessment Sálim Ali Centre for and Natural History (SACON), Anaikatty, Coimbatore- 641108, Tamil Nadu,

Abstract. Waterbird richness was investigated in five rural ponds of Samakhiali region, Kutch District, Gujarat. During September 2011 - May 2012, a total of 53 species of waterbirds from 14 families were recorded. Out of these, 30 were residents and 23 were winter visitors. Among the bird species recorded, ( melanogaster), Painted ( leucocephala), Oriental White ( melanocephalus), Black-tailed (Limosa limosa) and Eurasian (Numenius arquata) are listed as Near Threatened by IUCN, indicating the importance of these ponds. It is expected that this study would provide a preliminary database for the waterbirds of this area useful for further research and assessment. Key words: India, Gujarat, near threatened waterbird species, rural ponds

COMUNIDAD DE AVES ACUATICAS EN LAGUNAS RURALES DE LA REGION DE SAMAKHIALI, DISTRITO KUTCH, GUJARAT, INDIA Resumen. La diversidad de especies de aves acuáticas fue investigada en cinco lagunas rurales de la región Samakhiali, Distrito Kutch, Gujarat. Entre septiembre de 2011 y mayo de 2012, fueron registradas un total de 53 especies de aves acuáticas de 14 familias. De éstas, 30 fueron residentesy 23 visitantes invernales. Entre las especies registradas se encuentran la anhinga común (Anhinga melanogaster), tántalo indio (Mycteria leucocephala), ibis oriental (Threskiornis melanocephalus), aguja colinegra (Limosa limosa) and zarapito real (Numenius arquata), todas listadas como amenazadas por la UICN, lo que indica la importancia de estas lagunas. Esperamos que este estudio aporte una base de datos preliminar sobre las aves acuáticas de esta área que sea útil para investigación y manejo en el futuro. Palabras clave: India, Gujarat, aves acuáticas amenazadas, lagunas rurales

INTRODUCTION because they respond to both secondary and Human civilizations have typically been primary factors and can be monitored relatively founded around water bodies, mainly on the easily (Koskimies 1989). Also, because of their banks of rivers and lakes, with ponds often mobility, react very rapidly to changes in constructed nearby. Depending on size, artificial their (Louette et al. 1995). impoundments often eventually support are among the world’s most various flora and fauna including birds. Birds productive and biologically diverse ecosystems are one of the most important indicators of the (Gibbs 1993). Wetlands and waterbirds are health of ecosystems such as rural ponds, inseparable, and most wetlands support a rich ______1Received 28 June 2012; accepted 11 February 2013 2Corresponding author, e-mail address: [email protected]

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array of waterbird communities representing the 23°13'32˝N and 70°34' 03˝E, covering 0.32 km2; breadth of trophic levels (Grimmett and Inskipp and ‘Jangi Pond 2’ at 23°13' 27˝N and 70°33'55˝E, 2007). Activities of waterbirds are often covering 1.56 km2. These ponds are surrounded considered an indicator of ecosystem by human habitations and agricultural fields. quality and those species at or near the top of the Local people use these ponds for their domestic foodweb can reflect changes originating among a and livelihood needs. range of ecosystem components (Custer and The wetlands were visited twice monthly, Osborne 1977). Various ponds and other September 2011 - May 2012, and waterbirds were wetlands in any area serve as a balancing counted directly (Bibby et al. 2000). Morning reservoir for sustaining native flora and fauna visits occurred between 06:00 and 08:00hrs and (Grimmett and Inskipp 2007, Surana et al. 2007). those in evening between 16:00 and 18:00hrs The present work attempt a cataloguing of (Namgail et al. 2009). For watching, counting waterbirds that inhabit rural ponds of Samakhiali and species identification, observations were region of Bhachau Taluk, Kutch District, Gujarat, aided by binoculars. Photography was done India (Fig. 1). Systematic avian surveys are rare in using a digital camera with zoom lenses. The this area. birds were identified by their characteristic features in accordance with standard identifica- tion manuals and field guides, e.g. Ali and MATERIALS AND METHODS Ripley (1983), Kazmierczak (2000) and Grimmett Observations were made at five rural ponds, et al. (2001). The checklist of species was and are located as follows (Fig. 1): ‘Samakhiali prepared following the nomenclature of Pond’ at latitude 23°18' 25˝N and longitude Manakadan and Pittie (2001; Table 1) 70°30' 23˝E, covering about 1.51 km2; ‘Ambliala Pond’ at 23°15' 01˝N and 70°29' 32˝E, covering 1.83 km2; ‘Laliana Pond’ at 23°16' 09˝N and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 70°32'32˝E, covering 1.92 km2; ‘Jangi Pond 1’ at A total of 53 species of waterbirds belonging to

FIGURE 1. Locations of ponds studied, Gujarat, India.

[13] A. MOHAMED SAMSOOR ALI, S. RAMESH KUMAR AND P. R. ARUN

TABLE 1. Checklist of waterbirds in rural ponds of Samakhiali region, Kutch District, Gujarat, during September 2011 to May 2012.

Scientific Name Common Name Statusa

FAMILY PODICIPEDIDAE 1 Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764) Little Grebe Resident PHALACROCORACIDAE 2 Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot, 1817) Little Resident 3 Phalacrocorax fuscicollis (Stephens, 1826) Indian Shag Winter Visitor 4 Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758) Winter Visitor FAMILY ANHINGIDAE 5 Anhinga melanogaster (Pennant, 1769) Darter Resident FAMILY ARDEIDAE 6 Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) Resident 7 Ardea cinerea (Linnaeus, 1758) Grey Resident 8 Ardea purpurea (Linnaeus, 1766) Purple Heron Resident 9 Casmerodius albus (Linnaeus, 1758) Large Egret Resident 10 Mesophoyx intermedia (Wagler, 1829) Median Egret Resident 11 Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) Resident 12 Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) Indian Resident 13 Butorides striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Little Green Heron Resident 14 Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus, 1758) Black-crowned Night Heron Resident FAMILY CICONIIDAE 15 Mycteria leucocephala (Pennant, 1769) Resident 16 Anastomus oscitans (Boddaert, 1783) Asian Openbill-Stork Winter Visitor FAMILY 17 falcinellus (Linnaeus, 1766) Resident 18 Threskiornis melanocephalus (Latham, 1790) Oriental White Ibis Resident 19 papillosa (Temminck, 1824) Black Ibis Resident 20 Platalea leucorodia (Linnaeus, 1758) Eurasian Resident FAMILY PHOENICOPTERIDAE 21 Phoenicopterus ruber (Linnaeus, 1758) Greater Flamingo Winter Visitor FAMILY 22 Dendrocygna javanica (Horsfield, 1821) Lesser Whistling Resident 23 Sarkidiornis melanotos (Pennant, 1769) Comb Duck Resident 24 Anas poecilorhyncha (J.R. Forester, 1781) Spot-billed Duck Resident 25 Anas clypeata (Linnaeus, 1758) Northern Shoveller Winter Visitor 26 Anas querquedula (Linnaeus, 1758) Gargany Winter Visitor 27 Anas crecca (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Teal Winter Visitor FAMILY GRUIDAE 28 virgo (Linnaeus, 1758) Demoiselle Winter Visitor FAMILY RALLIDAE 29 Amaurornis phoenicurus (Pennant, 1769) White-breasted Waterhen Resident 30 Porphyrio porphyrio (Linnaeus, 1758) Purple Moorhen Resident 31 Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Moorhen Resident 32 Fulica atra (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Coot Resident FAMILY CHARADRIIDAE 33 Charadrius dubius (Scopoli, 1786) Little Ringed Plover Resident 34 Charadrius alexandrines (Linnaeus, 1758) Kentish Plover Resident 35 Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783) Yellow-wattled Lapwing Resident 36 Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783) Red-wattled Lapwing Resident FAMILY RECURVIROSTRIDAE 37 Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) Black-winged Stilt Resident FAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE 38 Limosa limosa (Linnaeus, 1758) Black-tailed Godwit Winter Visitor

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TABLE 1. Continued.

Scientific Name Common Name Status

39 Numenaus arquata (Linnaeus, 1758) Eurasian Curlew Winter Visitor 40 erythropus (Pallas, 1764) Winter Visitor 41 Tringa totanus (Linnaeus, 1758) Winter Visitor 42 Tringa stagnatilis (Bechstein, 1803) Marsh Winter Visitor 43 Tringa ochropus (Linnaeus, 1758) Winter Visitor 44 Tringa glorioles (Linnaeus, 1758) Winter Visitor 45 Xenus cinereus (Guldenstadt, 1774) Winter Visitor 46 hypoleucos (Linnaeus, 1758) Winter Visitor 47 minuta (Leisler, 1812) Little Winter Visitor FAMILY LARIDAE 48 Larus ichthyaetus (Pallas, 1773) Pallas’s Gull Winter Visitor 49 Sterna hirundo (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Tern Winter Visitor 50 Sterna aurantia (J.E. Gray, 1831) River Tern Resident 51 Sterna albifrons (Pallas, 1764) Little Tern Winter Visitor 52 Gelochelidon nilotica (Gmelin, 1789) Gull-billed Tern Winter Visitor 53 Chlidonias hybridus (Pallas, 1811) Whiskered Tern Winter Visitor aGrimmett et al. (2001)

6 orders and 14 families were seen among the Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Marsh five rural ponds (Table 1). Included were five Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Green Sandpiper Near Threatened (IUCN 2012) species, namely, (Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), Painted Stork glorioles), Eurasian Curlew (Numenaus arquata), (Mycteria leucocephala), Oriental White Ibis Little Stint (Calidris minuta), Pallas’s Gull (Larus (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Black-tailed Godwit ichthyaetus) and Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) (Limosa limosa) and Eurasian Curlew (Numenius (Table 1). One highlight of the study was the arquata) (Fig. 2); (Platalea record of around 1,200 migratory Demoiselle leucorodia), additionally, is included in Schedule - Cranes (Grus virgo) at Laliana Pond during I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. December 2011. Demoiselle Cranes, basically The dominant families, Ardeidae and Scolopa- birds of dry grasslands, are the second most cidae, were represented by 9 and 10 species abundant crane species in this part of the world. respectively. The most dominant , India is the wintering ground for the Demoiselle , was represented by a wide Crane, which travels from northern parts of range of species including lapwings, plovers, Asia, Magnolia and China covering over 2000 , gulls and terns; the next most km in 5 to 7 days to inhabit wetlands and represented order, Ciconiformes, included egrets, agricultural fields in India. , , ibis and (Fig. 3). Some of the species like Little Grebe Out of these 53 species, 30 (56.6%) were (Tachybagptus ruficollis), residents and 23 (43.4%) were winter visitors. (Phalacrocorax niger), Little Egret (Egretta The significant number of winter migratory garzetta), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Indian waterbirds can be attributed partly to the fact Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii), Painted Stork that the study area is located close to the major, (Mycteria leucocephala), Black Ibis (Pseudibis western Indian migratory avian flyway papillosa), Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha), (Khacher 1996). Prominent winter migratory Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), Black- species included Greater Flamingo (Phoenicop- winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and terus ruber), Gargany (Anas querquedula), Common Coot (Fulica atra) were recorded Common Teal (Anas clypeata), Northern throughout the study period in all the ponds. Shoveller (Anas crecca), Demoiselle Crane (Grus For some species, there were only one or two virgo), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), records, namely, Darter (Anhinga melanogaster),

[15] A. MOHAMED SAMSOOR ALI, S. RAMESH KUMAR AND P. R. ARUN

Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)

Oriental White Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

FIGURE 2. Near threatened bird species recorded at the rural ponds studied; photos: A. Mohamed Samsoor Ali

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FIGURE 3. Waterbird richness, by taxonomic order, among of the rural ponds studied.

Asian Openbill-Stork (Anastomus oscitans), A number of anthropogenic pressures affect Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), Little the ponds and their avifauna. Water from the Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius), Spotted ponds is used for domestic purposes, as well as Redshank (Tringa erythropus), Eurasian Curlew cattle crazing and bathing; predatory dogs are a (Numenaus arquata), Little Stint (Calidris minuta) disturbance as well. On the other hand, the and Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). occurrence of waterbirds indicates the healthy The wetland dependent birds such as Small status of these rural ponds providing water, Blue Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), White-breasted safe and essential nesting/ roosting Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), Lesser Pied sites. The ponds also support , Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), Common Swallow , molluscs, aquatic and their (Hirundo rustica), Red-rumped Swallow larvae, all of which are a good food source for (Hirundo daurica), Large Pied Wagtail (Motacilla waterbirds. As water depth, quality and maderaspatensis) and Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla trophic structure are the important habitat flava) were also seen around the ponds. The characteristics that influence the abundance tree species of Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, and diversity of waterbirds in ponds, proper Ficus benghalensis, Prosopis juliflora, Phoenix maintenance of these ponds would further sylvestris and Pongamia pinnata found at the increase the waterbird populations. banks of the ponds gave shelter and roosting The results of this study highlight the impor- sites to doves, koel, bulbuls, babblers and tance of rural ponds as a habitat for waterbirds parakeets. Human habitations around the including migratory species as well as species village ponds also supported large number of with conservation priorities. The results also Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Blue Rock point towards the need for conserving waterbird Pigeon (Columa livia) and House Sparrow populations in rural wetlands and associated (Passer domesticus), which often fed on grains landscapes. However, further research should scattered by local people. identify seasonal and interannual patterns of

[17] A. MOHAMED SAMSOOR ALI, S. RAMESH KUMAR AND P. R. ARUN

abundance as well as the physio-chemical GRIMMETT, R., AND T. INSKIPP. 2007. Birds of Southern parameters, food availability and other wetland India. Om Books International, New Delhi. characteristics that potentially affect these GRIMMETT, R., C. INSKIPP, AND T. INSKIPP. 2001. Pocket patterns. This would ultimately result in better Guide of the Birds of the Indian subcontinent. Oxford University Press. New Delhi. understanding of the population dynamics and KAZMIERCZAK, K. 2000. A field Guide to the Birds of ecology of waterbirds of our rural landscapes. India, , Pakistan, Nepal Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Om Book Service, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS New Delhi. KHACHER, L. 1996. The birds of Gujarat - a Salim Ali We are grateful to the Director, SACON, and to centenary overview. Journal of Bombay Natural Genting Energy Ltd, for use of facilities and History Society 93:331-373. support. KOSKIMIES, P. 1989. Birds as a tool in environmental monitoring. Annales Zoologici Fennici 26:153-166. LOUETTE, M., L. BIJNENS, A. D. UPOKI AGENONG, AND R. REFERENCES C. FOTSO. 1995. The utility of birds as bioindica- tors: case-studies in Equatorial . Belgian ALI, S., AND S. D. RIPLEY. 1983. Handbook of the Birds Journal of Zoology 125:157-165. of India and Pakistan (Compact Edition). MANAKADAN, R., AND A. PITTIE. 2001. Standardized University Press, Bombay, India. common and scientific names of the birds of the BIBBY, C. J., D. A. HILL, N. D. BURGESS, AND S. MUSTOE. Indian continent. Buceros - ENVIS Newsletter 6:1- 2000. Bird census techniques. Academic Press, 37. London. NAMGAIL, T., D. MUDDAPPA, AND T. R. S. RAMAN. 2009. CUSTER, T. W., AND R. G. OSBORNE. 1977. Wading birds Waterbird numbers at high altitude lakes in as biological indicators: 1975 Colony Survey. US eastern Ladakh, India. Wildfowl 59:137-144. and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC. SURANA, R., B. R. SUBBA, AND K. P. LIMBU. 2007. Avian GIBBS, J. P. 1993. The importance of small wetlands for diversity during rehabilitation stage of Chimdi the persistence of local populations of wetland- Lake, Sunsari, Nepal. Our Nature 5:75-80. associated . Wetlands 13:25-31.

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